Trending
Dear Car Talk: Why do steering wheels now have bulges at 10 and 2? It makes it uncomfortable to put my hands there. I find that if I cross my arms and grasp the steering wheel from the inside, it feels fine, but I choose not to drive that way.
Instead, I put my hands at 1 and 11, or at 3 and 9, which, although better than at the bulges, still does not feel great. I cannot find the answer to why these bulges are there, so I am going straight to the top to find out. — John
This is why I always steer with my thighs, John. Actually, you’re talking about the small bulges some car makers are putting on the inside of their steering wheels around 10 and 2.
I’m guessing that’s why, if you cross your arms, you can put your fingers around the outside of the wheel, avoiding the bumps, while simultaneously flossing your teeth with the steering wheel. So, I would stop doing that, John.
Here’s your answer. Those are thumb bolsters. They’re designed for your thumbs to rest on while you’re holding the steering wheel in the 9-ish and 3-ish position. 9 and 3 is actually recommended these days. If the airbag were to deploy in a crash, safety advocates say it’s better for the airbag to force your arms out to the sides, rather than up toward your face.
Those thumb rests serve several purposes, other than to annoy you, John. They have an ergonomic benefit. Lots of people have nerve issues (like carpal tunnel syndrome), which are exacerbated by gripping a cylinder like the steering wheel for a long time. Those thumb bolsters help spread the force and share it between the palm and the thumb, reducing hand fatigue.
They also provide tactile feedback to the driver about the orientation of the steering wheel. When your thumbs are around those bulges, even without looking, you know when the steering wheel is pointing “straight ahead.”
Race cars used these before they started showing up in passenger cars, for both of those reasons. Plus, by providing purchase for your thumbs, they make the wheel less likely to slip in your hands.
So, try a 9 and 3 grip with your thumbs on the bulges, John, and see if you like that better. And if not, there’s always a belt sander.
Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in care of King Features, 300 W. 57th St., 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.